Product storing and displaying apparatus



32-? Ev? 5: j

April 8, 1958 L. H. BOOR 2,829,78Q

PRODUCT STORING AND DISPLAYING APPARATUS Filed July 18. 1955 5Sheets-Sheet 1 P/' /.9 9 Y 0 ZXMZH]? =1 INVENTOR Laurence 1550 1ATTORNEY April 8, 1958 L. H. BOOR PRODUCT STORING AND DISPLAYINGAPPARATUS Filed July 18. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Efioor &Laurence HA 34 2/ a? .Mfw

ATTORNEY L. H. BOOR PRODUCT STORING AND DISPLAYING APPARATUS Filed July18, 1955 April 8, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Zaurenee jifiooz April8, 1958 H. BOOR PRODUCT STORING AND DISPLAYING APPARATUS Filed July 18.1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Laurencfe ii B0492" BY W ATTORNEY April8, 1958 L. H. BOOR 2,829,780

PRODUCT STORING AND DISPLAYING APPARATUS i /03 Oarowmo omemas MOVEMENT IN VENTOR Zaurence H floor ATTORNEY United States Patent ice 2,829,780PRODUCT STORING AND DISPLAYING APPARATUS Laurence H. Boor, Bowerston,Ohio Application July 18, 1955, Serial No. 522,744 3 Claims, (Cl.211121) This invention relates to product-storing and displayingapparatus, and has for a primary object to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein the products handled thereby are supported in multiplestored order by an endless, vertically movable conveyor, and wherein theconstruction of the apparatus is such that provision is made foreffecting a selective removal of such products from the storage conveyorand depositing the same on a cooperative, horizontal carriage, thelatter being movable laterally from the zone occupied by the conveyor toa relatively remote position of product display.

.Another object of this invention is to provide novel storing anddisplaying apparatus adapted for employment in mortuary establishmentsin providing an effective and conveniently controlled, space-savingmeans for compactly storing and individually displaying burial caskets.

Usually, in such establishments it is a common practice to provide oneor more large display rooms in which the caskets are disposed forinspection and sales purposes. When so arranged, the considerable numberof caskets which funeral directors are required to handle presents aproblem in providing adequate floorspace and racks for the supportthereof in display positions, and, more over, the storage and displayrooms are often bare and uninviting and arranged on upper floors of abuilding or other location relatively remote from the attractivelyfurnished rooms. or parlors ordinarily present in such establishmentsfor use by their patrons.

It is, therefore, a further object of the invention to provide apparatusin which a plurality of caskets, cornprising a complete line ofdifferent kinds, styles, and prices, are mounted on carrier devicesprovided on a vertically travelling, endless belt conveyor, and whereina novel transfer mechanism is provided in conjunction with the conveyorby which a selected casket, positioned on any one of said carrierdevices, is adapted to be aligned with and bodily deposited on thetransfer mechanism and removed thereby from the conveyor area, wherebyto admit of the placement of such a removed casket in a display areahaving attractive surroundings and disposed remotely from the conveyorarea.

An additional object of the invention is to provide the storage conveyorand casket transfer mechanism of such apparatus with electric operatingmotors, and, further, to provide control circuits for these motorshaving interrelated, manual and automatic switch devices, wherebythrough the use of said switch devices, proper sequential operation ofthe apparatus may be conveniently and safely effected in depositing andremoving selected caskets on and from the transfer mechanism while thestorage conveyor occupies a predetermined location with respect thereto.

For a further understanding of the invention, including additionalobjects, structural features, and advantages thereof, reference is to behad to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section,disclosing generally the combined casket-storing and displayingapparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the vertical storage conveyor;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the transfer mechanism of the apparatus,disclosing the carriage frames thereof in retracted positions for thedeposit thereon of a casket from the associated storage conveyor,

2,829,780 Patented Apr. 8, 1958 Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinalsectional View taken through a building wall, and disclosing on oppositesides of the wall the storage and display areas of the building in whichare contained, respectively, the conveyor and transfer mechanism of theapparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on theplane indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional viewtaken on the line 66 ofFig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a similar view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view disclosing the curtain-raising andlowering device employed by the present invention for opening andclosing an access opening formed in the wall of a building separatingthe storage and display mechanisms of the apparatus of the presentinvention;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevational view of the endless chain meansutilized by the curtain-raising and lowering means;

Fig. 10 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view taken on the line18-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of the electrical apparatus utilized by theapparatus of the present invention for driving and governing thesequence of operation of the storage and display mechanisms.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improvedproduct-storing and displaying apparatus of the present inventioncomprises, in a practical embodiment thereof, an elongated, verticallydisposed, endless belttype storage conveyor or elevator, as indicated at15 in said drawings. The conveyor or elevator is formed to receive andsupport at uniformly spaced intervals in its length a plurality ofplatforms or carriers 16 which are formed for the reception of variousproducts to be stored and individually positioned for display by theoperation of the apparatus. Such products, of course, may be widelyvaried. In this instance, the conveyor 15 has been shown as supportingin spaced order a plurality of burial caskets 17 or other intermentreceptacles, for example, grave vaults or the like. In this respect, itwill be understood that the apparatus of the present invention isadapted for storing and selectively displaying various products ofmanufacture, including motor vehicles, kitchen appliances, furniture,and other relatively large and heavy appliances which are awkward anddifiicult to handle and require under present conditions considerablefloor Spacewhen grouped in substantial numbers.

Advantageously, the conveyor 15 may be positioned in a storage area inthe form of a vertical shaft 18 formed within or, as shown, exteriorlyof a primary building wall 19. Provided in this wall, at a desiredhorizontal floor level, is an opening 20 through which the caskets orother products 17 are caused to pass by the operation of a horizontallydisposed, longitudinally shiftable carriage or transfer mechanism 21.This mechanism serves to transfer a casket from a storage position, inwhich it is supported by a platform or carrier 16 of the conveyor 15 andarranged in horizontal registry with the opening 20, by moving the samefrom the area 13 to a display room 22 disposed within the associatedbuilding on the opposite side of the wall 19 from the shaft or storagearea 18. Following a desired period of display, the product, by theoperation of the carriage or transfer mechanism, is returned to itssupported position on the vertical storage conveyor. This is done inorder that other products on said conveyor may be brought, as desired,into the display area. In this manner a relatively large number ofproducts having differentiating characteristics may be compactly storedin an out-of-the-way manner and yet rendered readily as- I posedinwardly facing order.

cessible when needed for individual attention-inviting display or otherinspection.

To this and other ends, the vertical storage conveyor 15, when used inthe support of the caskets 17, or other similar relatively heavy andbulky products, may be formed to include a pair of vertically disposed,parallel, transversely spaced, endless chains 23. As shown, each chainis composed of alternate single and paired links 23a and 23b,respectively, having their ends articulately joined by pins 230. Thesechains at their upper and lower ends pass around vertically spaced,aligned sets of sprocket wheels 24 fixed to end portions of transverselydisposed upper and lower shafts 25 and 26, respectively. These shaftsare journaled for rotation in appropriate bearings carried by avertical, stationary, frame structure 27. In this instance, the framestructure is shown as supporting an electric motor 28 of a conventionalreversible type. The armature shaft of this motor drives a sprocketaround which passes an endless drive chain 29, the latter also passingover a relatively enlarged, overhead, sprocket 30 fixed on one end ofthe upper shaft 25. By this construction the conveyor is supported in avertical position, and motion-transmitting means is provided for drivingthe conveyor chains in opposite or desired directions of movement, aswill be readily understood.

As illustrated, certain of the single links 23a of the chains 23, atregular intervals in the length of said chains, are provided withtransversely aligned pairs of openings for the reception of trunnionstuds 31 projecting horizontally and outwardly from the upper ends ofswinging product carriers or platforms 16. Each of these carriers orplatforms is formed to include a pair of spaced angle brackets 33. Thehorizontal flanges 32 of these brackets are spaced to have the ends ofthe bottom surfaces of the caskets 17 deposited on their upper surfaces,while the under surfaces ofsaid horizontal flanges are united by andrigidly joined with the opposite end portions of a. tie bar or channel34. The upstanding flanges of the brackets 33 are rigidly united, asshown in Fig. 4, with upwardly converging side bars 34a and to theunited apex-forming portions of these bars there are rigidly secured thetrunnion studs 31. With this arrangement, each casket rests on aplatform or carrier having its upper portions united for swingingmovement about horizontal trunnions joined with the elevator chains 23of the conveyor 15, the carriers and the products supported thereonmaintaining vertical stability as the chains pass around theend-positioned sprocket wheels 24 of the conveyor 15. It will be notedthat the caskets are supported at their ends on the upper surfaces ofthe horizontal flanges of the carrier brackets 33. By being so supportedthe base surfaces of the caskets between said brackets remain open andaccessible for engagement with the carriage or transfer mechanism 21 inthe operation of removing the caskets from the conveyor for transferenceto the display position and the return thereof from such latterpositions to the conveyor.

The carriage or transfer mechanism 21, employed in effecting suchtransference, comprises in the specific form thereof illustrated, astationary frame structure 36 stationarily mounted on the floor 37 ofthe display room or area 22. The frame structure may be formed toinclude a plurality of spaced uprights 38 which are joined at theirlower ends by means of floor angles 39 and are attached at their upperends to a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending, horizontallydisposed channel members 40, the latter having their open channel facesarranged in op- Also, the upper, front part of the frame structure 36may be rigidly united by a transversely extending channel member shownat 41. The inner ends of the longitudinal channel members 40 project ina cantilever manner through the wall opening and into the conveyor shaft18.

The channels formed by the members receive rollers 42 positioned on studaxles which project outwardlyand laterally from the opposite sides of apair of spaced, longitudinally extending, channel members 43. Thesemembers, in conjunction with rigidly united transverse members 44 and44a, form the slidably and horizontally movable intermediate frame X ofthe carriage or transfer mechanism. The members 43, like the members 40,have the open channel-forming sides thereof disposed to face inwardly inrelatively opposed order to receive for longitudinal movement thereinsupporting rollers 45 mounted on stud axles projecting outwardly andlaterally from the end regions of a pair of spaced longitudinallyextending members 46 of a second movable, or dolly frame of the carriageor transfer mechanism, as shown at Y.

The members 46 of the dolly frame are united with an inverted,transversely extending, channel member 47. This member at its endscarries a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending restplates 48. The latter are so arranged on the dolly frame that when thelatter is moved to an extreme position of inward movement, as shown inFigs. 3, 4 and 5, the plates will be disposed for contact with the basesurfaces of a casket resting on the angle brackets 33 of a carrier frame32, so that the casket so engaged may be transferred from the storageconveyor to the dolly of the carriage mechanism when the carrier frameis slightly lowered. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 5 that thetie bar 34 of each carrier 16 is disposed at one side thereof and inspaced relation to the dolly frame members when the dolly frame Yoccupies its extreme position of inward movement.

In order to control the movement of the sliding frames X and Y, thestationary part of the frame structure 36 includes a laterally disposedbase extension '49 on which is mounted a reversible type, electric motor50, the latter being joined with a speed-reducing, drive unit 50a. Thedriven shaft 51 of this unit carries a sprocket 52 around which passesan endless drive chain 53, the latter being also trained over a drivesprocket 54 mounted on one end of a horizontally and transverselyextending, carriage mechanism-operating shaft 55. The latter isjournaled in suitable bearings supported in connection with the rearpair of frame uprights 38. I

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the shaft 55 carries a pair of fixedsprockets 56 around which pass a pair of endless chains 57, the latterbeing also trained around'a pair of sprockets 58 fixed to a shaft 59journaled in bearings provided in connection with the forward pair ofuprights 38 of the stationary frame structure 36. Intermediately oftheir lengths the chains 57 carry brackets 60 by which the chains areunited with the longitudinal member 43 of the movable frame X, wherebyupon operation of the motor 50 and drive unit 50a, to produce back andforth sliding movement of the frame X in its horizontal plane of supporton the stationary channel members 40.

To impart horizontal sliding movement to the dolly frame Y atapproximately double the rate of linear travel of the intermediate frameX, the longitudinally spaced cross members 44 and 44a of the frame Xcarry aligned inwardly projecting brackets 61 (see Figs. 3 and 5). Eachof these brackets carries a short axle on which is rotatably fixed asprocket wheel 62 around which pass a pair of transversely spaced,longitudinally extending chains 63. These chains, as shown in Fig. 5,are formed with spaced ends which are stationarily anchored at 64 on atransverse channel member 65 forming a part of the frame structure 36.The-intermediate portions of the upper lengths of the chains 63 areattached by the use of brackets 65a (see Fig. 5) to the members 46 ofthe dolly frame.

By virtue of this construction it will be evident that as theintermediate carriage or transfer frame X moves outwardly in ahorizontal plane on the longitudinal guides provided therefor by thestationary frame 36, the dolly frame moves with it. Due, however, to theaccelerated linear speed of travel of the chains 63 relative to the rateof linear travel of the frame X, a ratio of approximately 2 to 1, thedolly frame Y, when so moved outwardly from its full line position shownat the right of Fig. 5, in which the dolly frame is arranged immediatelybeneath a casket 17, to its fully projected display position, asindicated by broken lines at the left of Fig. 5, said dolly frame willhave traveled approximately twice the distance traversed in the sametime as the frame X. This results in positioning a casket or otherproduct resting on the dolly frame Y in the display area 22, where theparticular product so positioned may be advantageously shown in anindividual manner and without confusing customers with other models orproducts contained on the conveyor 15.

To conceal normally the conveyor from customer viewing, I provide theopening with an automatically operated closure means 66 therefor. Asshown more particularly in Figs. 8 and 9, this closure means includesamong other features a curtain 67, preferably in the form of anattractive woven fabric, the curtain being raised at the time a casketor other product is passing through the wall opening 20 when travellingtoward or withdrawing from the display position.

The shaft 55 is provided at the end thereof opposite to that carryingthe sprocket 54 with a fixed sprocket 68 of comparatively large diameterand passing around this sprocket is an endless chain 69 which is alsotrained around a correspondingly proportioned sprocket 70 rotatablysupported in connection with the frame structure 36. The latter, inFigs. 8 and 9, is shown as being encased in a mechanism-concealinghousing 71.

Connected fixedly with the chain 69 is one end of a cable 72. This cableis trained over a set of lower guide pulleys 73 positioned on a bracket73a and over another set of upper pulleys 74 arranged above the wallopening 29. The depending branches of the cable 72, following cablepassage over the upper pulleys 74, have their lower ends secured to theopposite ends of a horizontal pole 75 from which the curtain 67 hangs.When the shaft 55 is rotated to produce outward movement of the dollyframe to move a product to be displaced from the storage area of theapparatus, as provided by the conveyor 15, to the display positionwithin the room area 22, the shaft 55 turns to move the upper length ofthe chain 69 in the direction indicated by the arrow m in Fig. 9. Byreason of the large sprockets 68 and 70 the linear movement of the upperlength of the chain is such as to completely raise the curtain 67 beforethe dolly frame Y and the product to be displayed mounted thereon reachthe wall opening 20 in their outward movement.

After the dolly frame and the product have passed through the wallopening, the anchored end of the cable 72 on the chain 69 will havepassed around the outer guide sprocket 70, so that said anchored endwill then move with the lower length of the chain 69, as indicated bythe arrow n in Fig. 9, such movement being continued until the dollyframe and product thereon reach the outer limit of travel of frames Xand Y, causing the product to occupy the display position. When in thisposition the curtain 67 will have been lowered to conceal the opening 20and the conveyor structure 15. When the dolly frame is next actuated toreturn the displayed product to the storage conveyor, the direction ofretation of the shaft 55 and the sprockets 68 and 70 is reversed toagain raise and lower the curtain with each operating stroke of thetransfer mechanism frames.

An electrical control system suitable for governing the operation of theapparatus is schematically illustrated in Fig. 11. The arrangement shownin this figure provides, in the interest of simplicity, for manualoperation of certain circuit-controlling switch devices. However, thesystem is interlocked by means of auxiliary contacts and limit switches,hereinafter defined, which are so disposed and operated that thecaskets, or other products, handled by the apparatus will not be,damaged in the event the operator of the system should, throughinadvertence or carelessness, operate switches or other controls in anout-of-sequence or improper manner.

In conjunction with the elevator or storage conveyor 15, the apparatusincludes an indicator I by which one operating the apparatus from withinthe display room of a building housing the same, may by observing theindicator determine quickly and accurately which of the product carriersis in an unloading position of horizontal registry with the-wall opening20. As here disclosed, the indicator may be mounted on the display roomside of the wall 19 and formed to include a stationary dial 75a bearingcircumferentially thereof uniformly spaced numerals corresponding to thenumber of the casket carriers or platforms 32 positioned on the chains23. As here shown, fourteen of such carriers or platforms are used, andthe dial is graduated accordingly. Suitable motion-transmitting means 76in this instance worm gearing, is driven by the upper shaft 25 in amanner producing one complete revolution of the indicator shaft 76a andthe hand 76b thereon for each complete cycle of travel of the conveyorchains 23.

In the circuit arrangement, as illustrated in Fig. 11, the reversibleelectric motors 28 and 50 employed in driving, respectively, theelevator or storage conveyor 15 and the carriage 21 are, for clearnessin illustration, separately developed in their dual capacities. Thus thepart bearing the legend U designates the windings of the motor 28 whichwhen energized produce motor rotation in a direction causing the frontside of the conveyor 15 to ascend, while the showing of the motor 28hearing the legend D designates the windings of the motor when operatedin a reverse direction to cause the front side of the conveyor todescend. For similar reasons, the reversible motor 50 used in slidingthe carriage 21 in and out of product-transferring relation with theconveyor 15 is separately shown at I and O to disclose the circuits forproducing sliding movement of the carriage in inward and outwarddirections, as will be readily understood.

Thus, an operator in producing desired operation of the apparatus willnormally first look at the indicating device to ascertain which carrieror platform 16 is in the transfer position of horizontal registry withthe carriage or transfer mechanism. From this inspection, the operatorcan determine whether he should operate the up switch 77, disposed inthe up branch of the circuit of the conveyor motor 28, or the downswitch 78 disposed in the 'down branch 80a of the motor circuit employedin controlling the direction of rotation of the motor 28 to producedownward movement of the products contained on the front run or lengthof the conveyor 15. Usually, in this connection the operator actuatesthe switch '77 or 78 depending upon the nearness of the casket orproduct desired to be displayed with relation to the carriage transferposition, so that the conveyor may travel the shortest distance possibleto bring the desired carrier to the transfer point.

The conveyor frame structure 27 has fixedly mounted thereon a stationarylimit switch 79 disposed in the shunt branch 86b of the operatingcircuit for the motor 28. The operating element of the switch 79 isadapted to be engaged by a stop 81 (Fig. 4) on each of the carriers asthe latter pass successively into the carriage transfer position. Thelimit switch '79 is normally closed and is operated to openautomatically the circuit 80b each time a carrier or platform passes thetransfer station, whereby to stop the movement of the conveyor with acarrier in registry with said station. If it is desired that certaincarriers be allowed to pass the transfer station Without interruption inconveyor operation, it is merely necessary for the operator to continueto maintain manual pressure on the push button controls 82 of one or theother of the manual switches 77 or 78, to maintain the engaged switch ina position of circuit closure, thereby by-passing the limit switch 79.This operation is con tinued until the conveyor progresses to the pointwhere the carrier or platform just ahead of the one the operator wishesto stop passes the transfer station. At that time, the operator releasesthe held push button of switch 77 or 78 and the conveyor will continueto move until the desired carrier or platform engages and trips thelimit switch 79 to cause its contacts 79a to open the branch 80b of thecircuit 80, stopping the conveyor in what may be referred to as an upperlimit position of transfer registry.

When the conveyor movement is stopped by the operation of the limitswitch 79, with a desired product on the conveyor in the upper limittransfer position, an interlocking limit switch, shown at 83, isoperated to permit the carriage motor to be energized. The switch 83 isstationarily mounted on the supporting frame of the conveyor and itsmovable control arm 84 is engaged by a shoe 85 on each of the carriersor platforms 1.6 while the latter are disposed in or between the upperand lower limits of vertical'movement in the transfer position. Theclosing of the normally open limit switch admits of the operation of thecarriage motor 50; otherwise, the switch 83 is open to preclude suchmotor operation. A main circuit lead L1 extends to the switch 83 andalso to the circuits 80, 80a and 80b of the conveyor motor. A normallyclosed, manually opened, cut-out or emergency switch 86 is disposed in aprimary position in the line L1 to enable all circuits of the apparatusto be opened simultaneously when necessary.

Upon the closing of the switch 83, and with an empty or unloaded dollyframe in the outward or display position, the manually operated switchshown at 87, and bearing the legend In, is operated to close a circuitbranch 88 which leads from the switch 83 to the windings 88a of thecarriage motor 50 and to the return lead L2 causing the motor 50 torotate in a direction producing inward movement of the carriage.

When the empty dolly frame of the carriage or transfer mechanism, withthe switch 87 maintained in its position of closure, reaches a positionof transfer registry beneath a casket-containing carrier or platformdisposed in an upper limit position, as effected by the stopping of theconveyor 15 through the operation of the switch 79, the inward movementof the carriage or dolly frame is automatically terminated,independently of switch-87, by the engagement of the shoe 89 on theintermediate frame with the movable control arm 90 of the stationary,limit switch 91. The latter carries a pair of spaced contacts 92 and 93,which when the switch 91 is first engaged by the shoe 89 of theintermediate frame adjacent the end of its inward stroke, the first setof contacts 92 of the switch 91 are moved to open the branch circuit 88and thereby arrest operation of the motor 50. However, when the dollyframe reaches its extreme position of inward movement, the switch 91 isactuated by the intermediate frame to cause the second set of contacts93 of the switch 91 to assume positions closing the branch circuit 800.

The branch circuit 800 extends from the line L1, through contacts 93 ofswitch 91, thence through a limit switch 94 to the down windings 95 ofthe conveyor motor 23. When the windings 95 are energized, the motor 28is rotated in a direction producing downward movement of the frontlength of the conveyor 15. Therefore, when the carrier or platform 16containing a casket to be transferred to the dolly frame is in an upperlimit position of transfer registry, which enables the dolly frame toadvance without interference to its extreme inward position in causingclosure of the contacts 93 of the switch 91, the windings 95 of themotor 28 are energized to cause motor rotation in .a direction movingthe front length of the conveyor automatically in a downwarddirection'from its upper to its lower limit of registry with thecarriage mechanism. When the conveyor reaches the lower limit position,it is automatically stopped bythe engagement of a shoe 96 on the casketcarrier with the movable actuating control 97 of the conveyorframe-mounted switch 94. In this limited downward movement of theforward run of the conveyor, a casket on the carrier is transferred tothe dolly frame for outward withdrawal by the latter from the conveyorzone to the display position, leaving the conveyor 15 stationary in thelower limit position specified.

The dolly frame carries a weigh limit switch 98 which is disposed in aconductor 99 extending from the lead L1 to the branch conductor 80. Theswitch 98 serves to preclude operation of the conveyor motor 28 when acasket is mounted on the dolly frame, the interlocking switches providedby the system being such as to enable but one motor to be operated atany given time. The switch 98 includes a movable control 100 which isadapted to be engaged by the base of a casket deposited on the dollyframe to move the pole of the switch to a position preventingtransmission of current to the motor 28 through the switches 77, 78 and79.

Following deposit of a casket on the dolly frame, the manual switch 101,arranged in the branch 102 of the operating circuit for the motor 50, ismoved to a position providing for current flow therethrough from thetrunk conductor L1, the switch 83 to the windings 103 of the motor 50,thereby producing rotation of the armature of the motor 50 in adirection causing outward travel of the carriage or transfer mechanismand the moving of the casket to an outward position of display while itis retained on the dolly frame.

This outward movement of the casket to the display position isterminated automatically by the engagement of the movable intermediateframe of the casket carriage with the movable operating element 104 of astationary limit switch 105 mounted on a forwardly disposed member ofthe stationary frame 36. The switch 105 includes in this instance adouble set of contacts, shown at 106 and 106A. When the carriage reachessubstantially its limit of outward movement, with the switch 101 held inits manually depressed position of circuit closure, the switch 105 isautomatically actuated to separate the contacts 106 thereof and tothereby interrupt the branch circuit 102 of the carriage motor. At thesame time, the contacts 106a close in permitting the passage of currentto the conveyor motor 28 when the dolly frame is empty, that is, withouthaving a casket disposed thereon, since the presence of a casket on thedolly frame opens and precludes conveyor motor operation through switch98, as previously explained.

After a casket has remained in the outwardly disposed position ofdisplay or inspection for a necessary period of time, and it is desiredto return the same to its position on a carrier of the'conveyor orelevator 15, the manually operated switch 87 bearing the designation Inis actuated to close the branch circuit 88 of the carriage motor. Inthis regard it will be noted that the contacts 92 of the switch 91 weremoved to positions of circuit closure, in providing for current flowthrough the branch circuit 88, when the carriage was moved outwardlyaway from the stationary switch 91 in transferring the casket to anoutward display position. The carriage moves inwardly with a casketthereon until its inward movement is arrested by the separation of thecontacts 92 of the switch 91. Such inward movement places the casket onthe dolly frame above the horizontal flanges 32 of the angle brackets 33of the carrier 16 in registry with the carriage mechanism and in thelower limit of the transfer position. To return this carrier to theupper limit position so that the casket may be lifted from the dollyframe of the carriage and transferred to the carrier, I make use of amanually operated return switch 107.

The switch 107 is located in a branch circuit 80d joined at 108 with thebranch circuit 800, the latter containing the contacts 93 of the switch91. The closing of the contacts 93 by the extreme inward movement of thecarriage does not close the circuit 80c since the limit switch 94 isalready held open by the down limit position occupied by the carrier 16.To move the carrier to the upper limit position in which it supports thecasket, the circuit 80d includes the switch 107, which when closedenables current to flow through the windings 28a of the motor 28 causingupward movement of the front length of the conveyor to restore theconveyor and the returned casket thereon to assume the upper limitposition of transfer registery. When such position is reached, theswitch 79 is engaged so that a second set of contacts 7% thereon may bemoved by the carrier effected operation of the conveyor to a positionopening the circuit 80d independently of the manual switch 107.

Upon the redeposit of the casket on its conveyormounted carrier and thereturn of the conveyor to its upper limit position, the carriage ortransfer mechanism is freed thereof and is returned to its normaloutward position by actuating the'switch 101. When the outward positionis reached, the carriage engages the limit switch 105 to open thecontacts 106 thereof. Thus, the operation of the carriage motor 50 isprecluded, but the contacts 106a of the switch 105 are closed to enablethe conveyor motor to be energized, thus completing the operating cycle.Preferably, the branch circtn't 80d includes a key-actuated, lock-typeof switch 110 by which an experienced operator, without the protectionof interlocking ocntrols, may operate the apparatus, as in the loadingof the conveyor 15, when empty, with caskets.

In view of the foregoing, it is believed that the construction,operation and advantages of the apparatus comprising the presentinvention will be readily understood and, therefore, a more extendedexplanation or description has been accordingly omitted. It will, also,be appreciated that while I have set forth and described in detail asingle practical embodiment of the present invention, nevertheless thespecific features of construction defined are subject to certainvariation or modification falling properly Within the spirit and scopeof the invention set forth by the following claims.

I claim:

1. Article-handling apparatus comprising: a stationary bed structure; anextension frame having rollered support on said bed structure forlongitudinal movement in a substantially horizontal plane thereon; adolly frame having rollered support on said extension frame forlongitudinal movement thereon; shaft means journaled in said bedstructure; sprockets carried by said shaft means; a first endless chainmeans passing around said sprockets and connected with said extensionframe for imparting longitudinal movement thereto on the bed structure;a reversible electric drive motor on said bed structure, said drivemotor including an operating circuit; power-transmitting means driven bysaid motor for rotating said shaft means to impart back and forthmovement to said extension frame; a second chain means connected withsaid dolly frame and having adjoining ends anchored to said bedstructure, said second chain means passing around sprockets carried bythe end portions of said extension frame and serving to produce a higherrate of linear travel on the part of said dolly frame than that impartedto the extension frame by said motor and power-transmitting means;normally open, individually operable, switch devices connected in theoperating circuit of said drive motor and selectively operable toproduce circuit closure effecting rotation of said motor in a directioncausing sliding movement of said frames in a desired direction of inwardor outward travel on said bed structure; and normally closed, automaticlimit switches connected in the operating circuit of said motor andoperative to interrupt said circuit to arrest frame travel at the .endsof the inward and outward strokes thereof.

2. Article-handling apparatus comprising: a stationary bed structure; anextension frame having rollered support on said bed structure forlongitudinal movement in a substantially horizontal plane thereon; adolly frame having rollered support on said extension frame forlongitudinal movement thereon; shaft means journaled in said bedstructure; sprockets carried by said shaft means; a first endless chainmeans passing around said sprockets and connected with said extensionframe for imparting longitudinal movement thereto on the bed structure;a reversible electric drive motor on said bed structure, said drivemotor including an operating circuit; powertransmitting means driven bysaid motor for rotating said shaft means to impart back and forthmovement to said extension frame; a second chain means connected withsaid dolly frame and having adjoining ends anchored to said bedstructure, said second chain means passing around sprockets carried bythe end portions of said extension frame and serving to produce a higherrate of linear travel on the part of said dolly frame than that impartedto the extension frame by said motor and powertransmitting means; avertically movable, endless conveyor having removably supported atspaced intervals thereon a plurality of articles; and electricmotor-driven means for moving said vertically movable conveyor to aligna selected article thereon substantially horizontally with said dollyframe, so that upon movement of said extension and dolly frames to alimit position in one direction, said dolly frame will have depositedthereon for movement in unison therewith the selected article.

3. Article-handling apparatus comprising: a stationary bed structure; anextension frame having rollered support on said bed structure forlongitudinal movement in a substantially horizontal plane thereon; adolly frame having rollered support on said extension frame forlongitudinal movement thereon; shaft means journaled in said bedstructure; sprockets carried by said shaft means; a first endless chainmeans passing around said sprockets and connected with said extensionframe for imparting longitudinal movement thereto on the bed structure;a reversible electric drive motor on said bed structure, said drivemotor including an operating circuit; powertransmitting means driven bysaid motor for rotating said shaft means to impart back and forthmovement to said extension frame; a second chain means connected withsaid dolly frame and having adjoining ends anchored to said bedstructure, said second chain means passing around sprockets carried bythe end portions of said extension frame and serving to produce a higherrate of linear travel on the part of said dolly frame than that impartedto the extension frame by said motor and power-transmitting means; avertically movable, endless conveyor having removably supported atspaced intervals thereon a plurality of articles; electric motor-drivenmeans for moving said conveyor to align a selected article thereonsubstantially horizontally with said dolly frame, so that upon movementof said extension and dolly frames to a limit position said dolly framewill have deposited thereon for movement in unison therewith theselected article; and interlocking means precluding operation of saidvertically movable conveyor when said dolly frame occupies anarticle-transferring position of registry with said conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,385,211 Hull July 19, 1921 1,856,876 Lewis May 3, 1932 1,858,619Delamere May 17, 1932 2,645,092 Ridnour July 14, 1953 2,647,647Alimanestiano Aug. 4, 1953

